hope focus uganda

The Sovereignty Bill has united all of us not just because it is a bad law (we've had worse laws not generate half the interest) but because if passed, it would affect everyone directly. Religious institutions, universities and other academic institutions, political parties, Civil Society Organisations, the business community, some government agencies like UHRC, and individual citizens all hope to receive some ka money from abroad at some point, and they don't want to be criminalised for doing that. But this Bill is just a symptom. The root cause is bad governance - rigged elections, abuse of power, unchecked authority, the desire to control, and impunity. If we all united around restoring good governance, we wouldn't have to contend with symptoms such as this Bill. Our biggest undoing as the Ugandan citizenry is, therefore, placing personal interest above the common good. Imagine if we exhibited this kind of unity in condemning rigged elections, abductions, corruption, and other evils.

The introduction of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill, 2026 creates a difficult situation that affects all NGOs in Uganda. By labeling vital work as ‘undue influence,’ the bill follows a pattern that started with the Anti-Homosexuality Act. At that time, many in civil society stayed quiet because they thought the law didn’t affect them; however, that silence created a path for the broader shrinking of civic space we see now. Today, this pressure is reaching the very organizations everyone relies on for healthcare, education, and human rights.